Billy Birrell
Personal information
Full name William Birrell[1]
Date of birth 13 March 1897
Place of birth Cellardyke, Scotland
Date of death 29 November 1968(1968-11-29) (aged 71)[2]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1914–1915 Inverkeithing United
1915–1921 Raith Rovers 77 (19)
0000–1920 → Kirkcaldy United (guest)
1921–1927 Middlesbrough 225 (59)
1927–1930 Raith Rovers 51 (22)
Managerial career
1927–1930 Raith Rovers (player-manager)
1930–1935 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
1935–1939 Queens Park Rangers
1939–1952 Chelsea
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Birrell (13 March 1897 – 29 November 1968) was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a forward.

Career

Birrell made over 220 appearances as a forward in the Football League for Middlesbrough.[1] He also made over 120 appearances in the Scottish League for Raith Rovers.[4] He began his career in management while a player at Raith Rovers and after his retirement, he managed Football League clubs Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic and Queens Park Rangers.[5][6]

On 19 April 1939, he was appointed the new Chelsea manager.[6] The Second World War forced the Football League to be abandoned less than half a year following Birrell's appointment.[7] During wartime, he led Chelsea to two consecutive Football League War Cup South Final at Wembley, winning the cup in 1945.[7]

In wartime, Birrell developed the idea of a youth team for Chelsea, and on 25 May 1940, the Chelsea Junior team, a team which included future England manager Ron Greenwood, played their first match against Queens Park Rangers.[8] Birrell's plan was fully implemented after the war, with the sponsorship of The Tudor Rose Boys' Club, allowing them to run four teams in the Harrow and Wembley League.[9]

Personal life

Birrell's brother Bob was also a footballer.[5]

Career statistics

Player

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Raith Rovers 1915–16[4] Scottish Division One 13 5 — 13 5
1916–17[4] 1 0 — 1 0
1919–20[4] 35 7 6 2 41 9
1920–21[4] 28 7 1 0 29 7
Total 77 19 7 2 84 21
Middlesbrough 1920–21[10] First Division 14 2 — 14 2
1921–22[10] 35 9 1 0 36 9
1922–23[10] 38 9 3 1 41 10
1923–24[10] 21 2 0 0 21 2
1924–25[10] Second Division 27 3 1 0 28 3
1925–26[10] 42 18 2 1 44 19
1926–27[10] 41 16 3 2 44 18
1927–28[10] First Division 7 1 0 0 7 1
Total 225 59 10 4 235 63
Raith Rovers 1926–27[4] Scottish Division One 15 4 3 1 18 5
1929–30[4] Scottish Division Two 20 12 2 1 22 13
1930–31[4] 16 6 0 0 16 6
Total 128 41 12 14 140 55
Career total 353 100 22 18 375 118

Manager

Team From To Record Ref
GWDLWin %
Raith Rovers (player-manager) 1927 1930 123 45 24 54 036.59 [11]
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic August 1930 May 1935 220 67 56 97 030.45 [12]
Queens Park Rangers May 1935 April 1939 184 85 42 57 046.20 [12]
Chelsea April 1939 April 1952 285 96 74 115 033.68 [12]
Total 812 293 196 323 036.08 —

Honours

As a player

Middlesbrough

As a manager

Chelsea

References

  • Matthews, Tony (2005). Who's Who of Chelsea. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 1-84596-010-6.
  • Mears, Brian (2004). Chelsea: A 100-year History. Mainstream Sport. ISBN 1-84018-823-5.
  1. 1 2 Joyce, Michael (16 October 2012). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939 (3rd Revised ed.). Tony Brown. p. 28. ISBN 9781905891610.
  2. ↑ "Billy Birrell | Chelsea Manager". Stamford-Bridge.com The History of Chelsea FC. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  3. ↑ Vulcan (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Middlesbrough". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Litster, John. Record of Pre-War Scottish League Players. Norwich: PM Publications.
  5. 1 2 3 "Birrell Billy Middlesbrough 1926". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Billy Birrell". Official Site | Chelsea Football Club. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "Chelsea in the Second World War". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Long Read: Future Blues – a history of the founding of Chelsea Juniors". www.chelseafc.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Birrell's Babes – a history of the founding of Chelsea Juniors – part two". www.chelseafc.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Billy Birrell". 11v11.com. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
  11. ↑ "Raith Rovers Manager Billy Birrell Details". www.fitbastats.com. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 Billy Birrell management career statistics at Soccerbase


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